Directions: Annotate and highlight portions of the text as indicated below. I will check these annotations for a completion grade. Additionally, be prepared to answer any questions; these will form the basis for any pop quizzes.
The following is from your "Literary Devices in Fiction" handout: Theme is the central idea or meaning of a story. It provides a unifying point around which the plot, characters, setting, point of view, symbols, and other elements of a story are organized. Distinguish between the theme of a story and its subject; they are not equivalents.
THEME STATEMENTS (from Klinge/Perrine p.195-197)
Theme should be expressible in the form of a statement with a subject and a predicate. “War” and “Disillusionment” are subjects in Ernest Hemingway’s “Soldier’s Home”; a thematic generalization of the story is more like this: “the brutal experience of war can alienate a person from those—even family and friends—who are innocent of war’s reality.”
The theme should be stated as a generalization about life. In stating theme we do not use the names of the characters or refer to precise places or events, for to do so is to make a specific rather than a general statement.
We must be careful not to make the generalization larger than is justified by the terms of the story. Use some, sometimes, may rather than every, all, always.
Theme is the central and unifying concept of a story. Therefore:
(a) it accounts for all the major details of the story. If we can’t explain the bearing of an important incident or character on the theme, our interpretation is probably partial and incomplete.
(b) The theme is not contradicted by any detail of the story. If we have to overlook or “force” the meaning of some significant detail in order to frame our statement, then our statement is defective.
(c) The theme cannot rely upon supposed facts—those not actually stated or clearly implied by the story. The theme exists inside, not outside, of the story. The statement of it must be based on the data of the story itself, not on assumptions supplied from our own experience.
5. There is no one way of stating the theme of a story. The story is not a guessing game that is supposed to yield some magical verbal formula; as long as the above conditions are fulfilled, the view may be stated in more than one way.
6. We should avoid any statement that reduces the theme to some cliché saying, such as “You can’t judge a book by its cover”. This is reductive and wastes the possibility of a fresh perception.
7. Use quotes/key terms/phrases (perhaps the title) from the story. Ground your statement in the language of the story.
Klinge’s Theme Statement Formula
When <define the protagonist>
comes in conflict with/encounters <define the antagonists/antagonistic forces>
in a situation in which <define the relevant circumstances/conditions/setting>
the result may be <explain/define the outcomes, ending points, epiphanies, dynamic changes in character, resolutions, conclusions>
“When a person like the protagonist encounters a challenge like this one under these conditions the result may be that something significant occurs.”
The final section is the most analytical and most important. Often, your statement will extend into another sentence (or more) with that portion. It is less important that your statement be elegant than it be comprehensive. Since it is a formula, the result will be formulaic. Ultimately, you should go beyond the formulaic phrasing and structure. Sandra Cisneros, "Eleven"
1)From what point of view is this story told?
2) How does Cisneros establish tone and realistic characterization throughout the story? (look at diction, imagery, use and types of similes, any repetitions, sentence structure)
Tillie Olsen, "I Stand Here Ironing"
1) From what point of view is this story told?
2) How does Olsen establish tone and realistic characterization throughout this story?
3) Who is the "you" in the beginning of the story?
4) Identify the conflicts in the story.
5) Is the narrator static or dynamic? Justify your response with quotations from the beginning and the end of the story.
6) Explain the ironing metaphor of the story, both literally and figuratively.
7) How does Emily's interest in comedic performance serve as a motif and inform the story thematically?
8) Try to write a theme statement for the story. John Updike, "A&P"
1) Analyze Updike's use of point of view. From what point of view is the story told? What do we know about the narrator? How does Updike use the narrator's language to characterize him? (ID examples in the text)
2) What is the narrator's attitude towards women? Young women? Older women? (ID examples)
3) What is the narrator's epiphany? How does this compare/contrast with the epiphany of the narrator from "Araby"?
4) One of the themes in this story has to do with the idea of the choices we make in our lives and the consequences that follow them. Examine the choices and consequences that the characters in this story make (Sammy; the girls; Lengel).
5) Another subject of the story has to do with a young man's (Sammy: 19 years old) coming-of-age. Do some quick online research to find out what (or whom) "The Fisher King" is. Now, consider that several of the items in the grocery store are called by names that serve as motifs in the story; notice the line "Queenie puts down the jar and I take it into my fingers icy cold: Kingfish Fancy Herring Snacks..." (410). Knowing what the Fisher King represents, how does Updike use this motif in this story? (Archetypal Crit.)
6) Compare/contrast Updike's use of literary devices and structure as well as this story's themes to those present in "Araby". How are the stories and style similar? Different?
7) Try to write a Theme statement for "A&P" using our formula. Write this out on your handout and bring it to class.
Ernest Hemingway, "Soldier's Home"
1) How has the war changed Krebs's attitude toward work? Toward women (highlight examples)?
2) What are the conflict(s) in this story?
3) Look at the excerpt where Krebs reads the new history (yes--that's an oxymoron) books written about the war that he fought in. How does he react to these? How does this reinforce any of the conflicts and themes in the story? (Highlight this section)
4) Do you notice any other motifs in this story? If so, ID them and explain what/how they reinforce.
5) How is the title of the story ironic?
6) What change does Krebs decide to make towards the end of the story? Why does he decide to make this change? Do you think his resulting decision will have positive or negative consequences?
7) This story portrays a character who likely suffers from PTSD (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder). However, when Hemingway wrote this story (published 1925; PTSD first diagnosed in 1980), that diagnosis did not yet exist. Do some brief research on the symptoms and causes of PTSD; which of these symptoms (and/or causes) fits Krebs's characterization?
8) Try to write a theme statement for "Soldier's Home"
Tim O'Brien, "How to Tell a True War Story"
See Questions #1-9 listed at end of the story.
AP: Short Stories
Directions: Annotate and highlight portions of the text as indicated below. I will check these annotations for a completion grade. Additionally, be prepared to answer any questions; these will form the basis for any pop quizzes.The following is from your "Literary Devices in Fiction" handout:
Theme is the central idea or meaning of a story. It provides a unifying point around which the plot, characters, setting, point of view, symbols, and other elements of a story are organized. Distinguish between the theme of a story and its subject; they are not equivalents.
THEME STATEMENTS (from Klinge/Perrine p.195-197)
(a) it accounts for all the major details of the story. If we can’t explain the bearing of an important incident or character on the theme, our interpretation is probably partial and incomplete.
(b) The theme is not contradicted by any detail of the story. If we have to overlook or “force” the meaning of some significant detail in order to frame our statement, then our statement is defective.
(c) The theme cannot rely upon supposed facts—those not actually stated or clearly implied by the story. The theme exists inside, not outside, of the story. The statement of it must be based on the data of the story itself, not on assumptions supplied from our own experience.
5. There is no one way of stating the theme of a story. The story is not a guessing game that is supposed to yield some magical verbal formula; as long as the above conditions are fulfilled, the view may be stated in more than one way.
6. We should avoid any statement that reduces the theme to some cliché saying, such as “You can’t judge a book by its cover”. This is reductive and wastes the possibility of a fresh perception.
7. Use quotes/key terms/phrases (perhaps the title) from the story. Ground your statement in the language of the story.
Klinge’s Theme Statement Formula
When <define the protagonist>
comes in conflict with/encounters <define the antagonists/antagonistic forces>
in a situation in which <define the relevant circumstances/conditions/setting>
the result may be <explain/define the outcomes, ending points, epiphanies, dynamic changes in character, resolutions, conclusions>
“When a person like the protagonist encounters a challenge like this one under these conditions the result may be that something significant occurs.”
The final section is the most analytical and most important. Often, your statement will extend into another sentence (or more) with that portion. It is less important that your statement be elegant than it be comprehensive. Since it is a formula, the result will be formulaic. Ultimately, you should go beyond the formulaic phrasing and structure.
Sandra Cisneros, "Eleven"
1)From what point of view is this story told?
2) How does Cisneros establish tone and realistic characterization throughout the story? (look at diction, imagery, use and types of similes, any repetitions, sentence structure)
Tillie Olsen, "I Stand Here Ironing"
1) From what point of view is this story told?
2) How does Olsen establish tone and realistic characterization throughout this story?
3) Who is the "you" in the beginning of the story?
4) Identify the conflicts in the story.
5) Is the narrator static or dynamic? Justify your response with quotations from the beginning and the end of the story.
6) Explain the ironing metaphor of the story, both literally and figuratively.
7) How does Emily's interest in comedic performance serve as a motif and inform the story thematically?
8) Try to write a theme statement for the story.
John Updike, "A&P"
1) Analyze Updike's use of point of view. From what point of view is the story told? What do we know about the narrator? How does Updike use the narrator's language to characterize him? (ID examples in the text)
2) What is the narrator's attitude towards women? Young women? Older women? (ID examples)
3) What is the narrator's epiphany? How does this compare/contrast with the epiphany of the narrator from "Araby"?
4) One of the themes in this story has to do with the idea of the choices we make in our lives and the consequences that follow them. Examine the choices and consequences that the characters in this story make (Sammy; the girls; Lengel).
5) Another subject of the story has to do with a young man's (Sammy: 19 years old) coming-of-age. Do some quick online research to find out what (or whom) "The Fisher King" is. Now, consider that several of the items in the grocery store are called by names that serve as motifs in the story; notice the line "Queenie puts down the jar and I take it into my fingers icy cold: Kingfish Fancy Herring Snacks..." (410). Knowing what the Fisher King represents, how does Updike use this motif in this story? (Archetypal Crit.)
6) Compare/contrast Updike's use of literary devices and structure as well as this story's themes to those present in "Araby". How are the stories and style similar? Different?
7) Try to write a Theme statement for "A&P" using our formula. Write this out on your handout and bring it to class.
Ernest Hemingway, "Soldier's Home"
1) How has the war changed Krebs's attitude toward work? Toward women (highlight examples)?
2) What are the conflict(s) in this story?
3) Look at the excerpt where Krebs reads the new history (yes--that's an oxymoron) books written about the war that he fought in. How does he react to these? How does this reinforce any of the conflicts and themes in the story? (Highlight this section)
4) Do you notice any other motifs in this story? If so, ID them and explain what/how they reinforce.
5) How is the title of the story ironic?
6) What change does Krebs decide to make towards the end of the story? Why does he decide to make this change? Do you think his resulting decision will have positive or negative consequences?
7) This story portrays a character who likely suffers from PTSD (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder). However, when Hemingway wrote this story (published 1925; PTSD first diagnosed in 1980), that diagnosis did not yet exist. Do some brief research on the symptoms and causes of PTSD; which of these symptoms (and/or causes) fits Krebs's characterization?
8) Try to write a theme statement for "Soldier's Home"
Tim O'Brien, "How to Tell a True War Story"
See Questions #1-9 listed at end of the story.
William Faulkner, "A Rose for Emily"